Erdoğan to select 11th Constitutional Court member from three candidates

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, TURKEY — The Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) has concluded its election to determine three candidates for a vacant seat on the Constitutional Court (AYM), setting the stage for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to appoint his 11th member to the 15-seat high court.

The election was held to replace AYM Vice President Hasan Tahsin Gökcan, whose term is set to expire on March 24, 2026. Gökcan was originally appointed by former President Abdullah Gül in 2014. In the voting process, where 317 Court of Cassation members cast ballots, Mustafa Karayıldız secured the top spot with 58 votes, followed by Oğuz Dik with 45 votes and Şaban Kazdal with 44 votes.

Frontrunner Mustafa Karayıldız

According to sources in Ankara, Mustafa Karayıldız is widely considered the favorite for the appointment. Karayıldız is reportedly affiliated with the "Istanbul Group" within the judiciary and has the backing of current AYM member İrfan Fidan, who has been lobbying for his selection.

Karayıldız gained prominence as a member of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, which controversially refused to implement the Constitutional Court's two violation rulings regarding the imprisonment of MP Can Atalay. Additionally, it is alleged that Justice Minister Akın Gürlek also supports Karayıldız's candidacy.

Erdoğan’s influence on the High Court

With this upcoming appointment, President Erdoğan will have directly selected 11 of the 15 members currently serving on the Constitutional Court. Only one member, Engin Yıldırım, remains from the Abdullah Gül era, while the remaining three members were elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

The other candidates also have notable backgrounds: Şaban Kazdal is known to be a fellow townsman of President Erdoğan and aligns with the "Milli Görüş" tradition, while Oğuz Dik is associated with the National Youth Foundation (MGV) group and previously presided over the General Staff "roof case" concerning the July 15 coup attempt.

Upcoming leadership race

The departure of Vice President Gökcan will also trigger an internal election for the vice presidency. İrfan Fidan is expected to run for this position. Furthermore, with AYM President Kadir Özkaya's term ending in December 2026, the court is bracing for a broader leadership transition, where Fidan is also rumored to be a strong contender for the presidency.

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